Grades 1 and 2 students enjoyed an 1890s-era “end of school year” party on Tuesday, playing games such as bean bag toss, croquet and Game of Grace. The program, led by Brockville Museum Interpretation and Public Program Coordinator Amy Mackie, was held for students to celebrate Education Week, and as a lead-up to the Prince of Wales Public School 125 th Anniversary Celebration , slated for Saturday, May 14.

“For the 125 th , we want to put students in the mindset of what play would be like for kids at that time,” said Mackie of the games. “What’s interesting is that these are all very low-tech games (compared with the games of today) and yet kids can have just as much fun with them.”

The students enjoyed making “thaumatropes,” little toys comprised of a string, with a two-sided paper circle glued to the centre. The circle bore a drawing of a bird on one side and a cage on the other. When the string was twisted, causing the centre paper to spin, it produced the optical illusion that the bird was actually in the cage. Students also had the chance to play croquet, the “Grace Game” - a two-man game in which players use two wooden sticks to launch a small wooden hoop to one another - and the “hoop game,” which challenged kids to roll a wooden hoop like a tire. At another station, the children enjoyed making low-tech, homemade ice cream in a small plastic and metal globe using just ice, salt, sugar and cream.

The Prince of Wales Public School 125 th Anniversary Celebration is an open house that will run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will feature historical displays, heritage games, entertainment by the band Healy and Orr, a magician, Elvis impersonator, barbecue, and historical displays.